FED:RSPCA hits back at senator's claims

AAP General News (Australia)
08-11-2011
FED:RSPCA hits back at senator's claims

CANBERRA, Aug 11 AAP - The RSPCA has denounced as baseless a Liberal senator's claim
that Indonesian abattoir workers were paid to abuse cattle for television cameras.

Footage of the abuse, aired on the ABC's Four Corners program in June, led to a temporary
ban on live cattle exports for a month while the government attempted to clean up Indonesia's
slaughter practices.

A Senate committee, investigating animal welfare practices in Australia's live export
markets, heard from the RSPCA and Animals Australia on Wednesday.

But representatives were subject to interrogation by coalition senators who questioned
the veracity of the abuse claims.

Liberal senator Chris Back said a taxi driver used by Animals Australia made payments
to meat workers to abuse cattle.

The animal welfare organisation has denied any knowledge of the payments.

RSCPA Australia boss Heather Neil said she was bitterly disappointed with the inquiry hearing.

"This was a forum to talk about the endemic cruelty in the live export industry," she
said on Thursday.

"Very few questions related to the terms of reference of the inquiry."

Senator Back's line of questioning was not only baseless but "deeply offensive" for
anyone working to protect animals from cruelty.

The RSPCA conducted a thorough scientific analysis of the hours and hours of raw footage
from Indonesia, Ms Neil said.

"There is absolutely no doubt that cruelty is routine and widespread."

The first load of live cattle since the ban was lifted left Darwin on Wednesday.

AAP rl/jsh

KEYWORD: CATTLE RSPCA

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